ReportWire

Tag: Performing arts

  • Blue Man Group announce their return to an Orlando attraction — but not where you think

    Blue Man Group announce their return to an Orlando attraction — but not where you think

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    click to enlarge

    Photo courtesy Blue Man Group/Facebook

    The Blue Man Group has a new home in Orlando at Icon Park

    Blue-hued juggernauts the Blue Man Group have announced their long-awaited return to an Orlando attraction, but maybe not the one you’re thinking of.

    On Thursday, the fan-favorite performance artists confirmed their return to the Orlando tourist sector, but now they will be calling Icon Park home for a performance residency, rather than their old stomping grounds at Universal CityWalk. The cobalt fellows held court at Universal for a long run that ended in 2021.

    “There is no greater world stage than Orlando for exciting family fun, making it a natural choice as a home base for Blue Man Group,” said Jack Kenn, managing director of Blue Man Group, in a press statement. “Our fans are eager for the Blue Men to be part of their Orlando vacations, and our creative team is thrilled to create a new type of experience that is even more immersive and personalized to Orlando.”

    The Blue Man Group will be getting blue at a brand-new 500-seat theater, to be built and open for business by the end of the year.


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    Matthew Moyer

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  • Orlando’s Fringe ArtSpace flooding affects festivals

    Orlando’s Fringe ArtSpace flooding affects festivals

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    Photo via Orlando Fringe/Facebook

    Substantial flooding and water damage at downtown Orlando’s Fringe ArtSpace has affected theater festivals, the organization announced.

    The upcoming Orlando Out Fest, originally scheduled for June 27 to 30, will be rescheduled. The Fringe team has not yet released the new date.

    The Pride-themed festival will celebrate LGBTQIA-related stories, artists and history. The four-day festival is set to be filled with gay cowboys, drag-queen storytelling, stand-up comedy and more.

    The Latin American Festival of Performing Arts, set for June 17 to 23, was relocated to Winter Park’s Trinity Preparatory School of Florida.

    The Fringe team announced it has been working to reschedule the Orlando Out Fest, as the former dates and times have been scratched due to the severe water damage.

    The team has suggested that guests donate money spent on tickets to the artists affected.

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    Houda Eletr

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  • Downtown Orlando to host live music, arts performances with new year-long initiative

    Downtown Orlando to host live music, arts performances with new year-long initiative

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    Photo via Downtown Orlando/Facebook

    Greg Hayworth had to compete with the roaring sound of the nearby Sunrail and the added obstacle of rainy weather at his sidewalk performance in downtown Orlando Wednesday afternoon. But that didn’t stop the guitarist from serenading passersby with a healthy mix of tunes, ranging from “The Piña Colada Song” to “Under the Boardwalk,” for two hours.

    “I’m excited to be here this afternoon,” he called before launching into his last song of the set. “Now, for a little Jimmy Buffett.”

    The succeeding rendition of “I Don’t Know (Spicoli’s Theme)” earned several thumbs ups from coffee cup-clutching onlookers.

    Hayworth performed as part of the new DTO Live initiative launched this week. The city collaborated with local agency United Arts of Central Florida for the project, which aims to make more art experiences available to Orlando residents and visitors.

    DTO Live will bring more than 800 events to downtown Orlando between now and June 2025, at 11 downtown locations. The locations stretch about a two-mile radius from City Hall to the North Quarter district adjacent to Lake Highland Preparatory School.

    Most performers on the current schedule are musicians, including jazz, R&B and alternative acts. But the DTO Live calendar, which shows events booked throughout July, also features dance, poetry and even a mime performance from Ben Macon.

    Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer kicked off the program’s launch at a celebration Tuesday morning.

    “At the heart of Project DTO is a vision for a downtown filled with arts and culture,” Dyer said. “DTO Live marks a significant step toward championing a world-class cultural scene, fueling the momentum toward a downtown that thrives both economically and culturally.”

    Dyer spoke in front of the city’s newest art installation — a rainbow-painted wooden arch on the corner of Pine Street and Orange Avenue. The 20-foot tall, Wizard of Oz-inspired piece, entitled “No Place Like Home,” was designed by Justin “SKIP” Skipper and Ha’ani Hogan.

    The arch is the first of six large-scale installations to be built downtown throughout the year in conjunction with the slew of live performances. Creative City Project and the Downtown Arts District are collaborating with the city and United Arts of Central Florida to bring both visual and performing arts to Central Florida over the next year.

    click to enlarge Greg Hayworth plays outside the Bao Spot during his first DTO Live performance Wednesday, June 19. - Photo by Zoey Thomas

    Photo by Zoey Thomas

    Greg Hayworth plays outside the Bao Spot during his first DTO Live performance Wednesday, June 19.

    “This program celebrates the creative genius of our community and invites everyone to experience the magic of the arts,” said Jennifer Evins, United Arts of Central Florida president and CEO.

    DTO Live is part of the city’s ongoing Project DTO, which first kicked off in 2014 to bolster both creativity and economic competitiveness within the city. Orlando launched planning for Project DTO 2.0 in 2022, and with DTO Live is actualizing its vision.

    Aside from generating jobs in the creative sector by paying live performers, DTO Live aims to help Orlando economically by driving tourism and local spending, said the city in a release.

    Guitarist Hayworth said he applied to perform for DTO Live after receiving an email from a musicians’ union two weeks ago. The great people at United Arts of Central Florida made the process easy, he said.

    Although he said he considers Florida to be somewhat conservative and oppressive, the Orlando native has always found his city to be tolerant and inclusive. Enhancing its arts scene will only boost this reputation, he said.

    “Investment in the arts is always important,” Hayworth said.

    Hayworth already has his next performance scheduled for next week in the same location. Orlando residents and visitors can browse upcoming shows on the city’s online calendar.

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    Zoey Thomas

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  • ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ Will Mainly Make You Want to Watch the Movie Instead

    ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ Will Mainly Make You Want to Watch the Movie Instead

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    Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

    Through July 7 at Playhouse Square

    Backwards time travel always fascinates we mortals, stuck as we are in the present where nothing seems to be going right. In this Presidential Election year, many Democrats want to go back a few years to the days when Obama strolled the halls of the White house while a huge chunk of Republicans want to flash back a couple centuries to when women and minorities “knew their place.”

    In balmy 1985, the film Back to the Future dazzled us with a time jaunt back to 1955 when high-schooler Marty McFly and his Delorean met his parents when they were teenagers too and, you know, hilarity ensued.

    The stage version of that uber-popular flick—Back to the Future, the Musical—is now making a tour stop at Playhouse Square, and while the staging effects are spectacular enough to buckle your knees (even while sitting) the rest of the play often falls short on a few scores.

    Aside from the cute premise, the engine that powered the original BTTF flick was a trio of performances: Michael J. Fox as Marty; Crispin Glover as his twitchy, pathologically passive dad George; and Christopher Lloyd as the genius inventor and professional wackadoodle Doc Brown. Those three actors kept the story compelling, and the laughs followed.

    In this stage iteration directed by John Rando, Caden Brauch plays Marty as if he’s a minor character who surprisingly found himself with a lot of lines to read. His stage presence is minimal, and his singing and acting are no more than okay. But what’s missing is the goofy charm that makes his character relatable. When he finds himself in the bedroom of high schooler Lorraine (Zan Berube), the exquisite strangeness of a teen being hit on by his own mom, now young as himself, is not played to maximum effect.

    As for dad George, Burke Swanson takes Glover’s quirky physical mannerisms and turns them into a bizarre series of gyrations that are less amusing than they are curious and a bit troubling. Instead of doing his own interpretation of George, Swanson opts for a highly exaggerated and therefore pale imitation.

    Don Stephenson pays homage to Lloyd’s manic masterpiece in the juicy role of Doc Brown, but he is an agile enough performer to make many moments and laughs all his own.

    These actors and the large ensemble are not helped by the score and lyrics, which seem to have been crafted by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard while wearing oven mitts. The music is uninspired, and the lyrics are often circular and confusing (ie. In the song “Future Boy:” “Future boy/I’m no future boy/’Cause I think I’m here to stay/What’s the future for/If I don’t get more than today?/I’m no future boy”). The one excellent song is “The Power of Love,” written by Huey Lewis and the News for the film soundtrack.

    There is also a lame subplot featuring Cartreze Tucker as a Black man who also dreams of the future, but despite Tucker’s best efforts it feels tacked on. Even the show “villain,” in the form of town bully Biff (Ethan Rogers), seems like he’s been borrowed from a thousand other scripts and performances.

    Still, the production is damn near saved by the video effects (designer Finn Ross) which are blended with Gareth Owen’s sound and the lighting design by Tim Lutkin and Hugh Vanstone to make the full-size Delorean sports car leap to life. The sequence when Doc Brown is climbing a video staircase (!) to the top of the clocktower while Marty floors the car to make his escape back to present-day time is a sure-fire Broadway boner and receives its own well-deserved ovation.

    If the rest of the production displayed that level of theatrical invention, this would be a show to remember. As it is, it only makes us want to go back to the past for another viewing of the original film.

    Back to the Future, the Musical
    Through July 7 at Playhouse Square, KeyBank State Theater, 1615 Euclid Ave., playhousesquare.org, 216-241-6000.

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    Christine Howey

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  • Best Dating Sites – Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match

    Best Dating Sites – Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match

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    Finding the right adult dating site can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why we’ve worked hard to bring you the best adult dating sites to connect with the perfect match.

    Our top pick is Adult Friend Finder, known for its vast user base and various dating options. We’ll also feature other great dating sites to suit different needs and preferences. Let’s get started!

    Best Adult Dating Sites

    1. ⭐Adult Friend Finder – Editor’s choice as the Best dating Site Overall
    2. Ashley Madison – Best for Affairs
    3. Seeking – Best for a Luxurious Dating Experience
    4. Eharmony – Best for Long-term Relationships
    5. Elite Singles – Best for Ambitious Professionals
    6. Zoosk – Best for Versatile Dating
    7. Hinge– Best for Fun and Versatile Dating
    8. Bumble – Best for Empowering and Interactive Dating
    9. OK Cupid – Best for Embracing a Diverse Community
    10. The League – Best For Elite Professionals
    11. Happn – Best for Real-life Connections
    12. Her – Best for LGBTQ+ Dating
    13. Silver Singles – Best for Focused on Mature Relationships
    14. Coffee Meets Bagel – Best for Thoughtful Connections
    15. Plenty of Fish – Best for a Wide Range of Options
    16. Match – Best for Trusted for Serious Dating
    17. Tinder – Best for Quick and Casual Hookups

    17 Best Adult Dating Sites

    Let’s examine our top 17 picks for the best adult dating sites.

    Adult Friend Finder – Best Dating Site Overall

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (2)

    Pros

    • Huge user base
    • Variety of dating options
    • Easy-to-navigate interface
    • Numerous communication tools
    • Frequent updates and features

    Cons

    • Some profiles may be spam
    • Free version has limited features

    Adult Friend Finder was launched in 1996 and is among the oldest and most popular online dating sites. It caters to individuals seeking casual encounters, hookups, and open-minded connections. With over 80 million members worldwide, it offers a diverse and active community for great connections.

    Top Features

    • Live Chat: Real-time interaction with potential matches.
    • Video Profiles: Add a personal touch to your profile.
    • Groups and Blogs: Join communities and engage in discussions.
    • Advanced Search: Find matches based on specific criteria.
    • Mobile App: Stay connected on the go.

    Why Adult Friend Finder Stands Out

    Adult Friend Finder stands out for its long-standing reputation and excellent features. It offers a comprehensive platform for those seeking no-strings-attached fun.

    Pricing

    • 1-Month Gold Membership: $39.95/month
    • 3-Month Gold Membership: $26.95/month ($80.85 billed quarterly)
    • 12-Month Gold Membership: $19.95/month ($239.40 billed yearly)

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the site’s variety of communication tools and active community. However, some users note there are several spam profiles and limited free features.

    Sign Up to Adult Friend Finder

    Ashley Madison – Best for Affairs

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (17)

    Pros

    • Ideal for discrete connections
    • Large user base
    • Easy-to-use interface
    • Comprehensive privacy features
    • Active community

    Cons

    • Extra charges for certain features
    • Limited features for free users

    Ashley Madison was launched in 2001 and is renowned for facilitating discreet relationships. The site is popular, especially among married individuals, and has over 50+ million active members. It provides a secure platform for those seeking extramarital connections without fear of exposure.

    Top Features

    • Discreet Browsing: Advanced privacy options to keep your activities confidential.
    • Large User Base: Over 50+ million active members globally.
    • Priority Messaging: Stand out in someone’s inbox with priority messages.
    • Travelling Man Feature: Connect with potential matches in different locations.
    • Virtual Gifts: Enhance your profile and interactions with virtual gifts.

    Why Ashley Madison Stands Out

    Ashley Madison stands out for its unique niche in facilitating discreet, extramarital affairs. Its extensive privacy features and large user base make it a trusted choice.

    Pricing

    • Free for women
    • Basic (100 Credits): $49 ($0.49 per credit)
    • Classic (500 Credits): $149 ($0.30 per credit)
    • Elite (1,000 Credits): $249 ($0.25 per credit)

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the site’s privacy features and large, active community. However, some express concerns about its controversial reputation.

    Sign Up for Ashley Madison

    Seeking – Best for a Luxurious Dating Experience

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (8)

    Pros

    • High-quality profiles
    • Transparent arrangements
    • Large user base
    • User-friendly interface
    • Exclusive events

    Cons

    • Premium membership required for full features
    • Some profiles may not be genuine

    Seeking is a premium dating site that launched in 2006. It connects attractive individuals with successful people looking for luxurious engagements

    Top Features

    • Profile Verification: Ensures authenticity and safety.
    • Advanced Search: Helps find matches based on detailed criteria.
    • Exclusive Events: Invitations to private parties and events.
    • Messaging System: Secure and private communication.
    • Income and Net Worth Display: Transparency in profiles.

    Why Seeking Stands Out

    Seeking stands out for its focus on high-end, mutually beneficial relationships. The site’s emphasis on transparency and quality ensures members’ needs are met.

    Pricing

    • 1-Month Premium Membership: $109.99/month
    • 3-Month Premium Membership: $96.66/month ($289.99 billed quarterly)
    • 1-Month Diamond Membership: $274.99/month
    • Premium One-Time Purchase: $289.99 for 90 days
    • Diamond One-Time Purchase: $274.99 for 30 days

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users highlight the quality of profiles and the site’s focus on transparency. Some concerns include the cost of premium membership and occasional fake profiles.

    Sign Up to Seeking

    Eharmony – Best for Long-term Relationships

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (5)

    Pros

    • Comprehensive matching algorithm
    • Detailed profiles
    • High success rate for long-term relationships
    • Secure platform
    • Mobile app available

    Cons

    • Time-consuming signup process
    • Expensive compared to other sites

    Brief Site Overview

    Eharmony was launched in 2000 and is one of the most trusted dating sites for serious relationships. It uses a detailed personality test and compatibility matching system to connect users. You can easily find a compatible partner for a long-term relationship.

    Top Features

    • Compatibility Quiz: In-depth personality test to find the best matches.
    • Secure Messaging: Safe communication within the platform.
    • Video Date: Virtual dates for better connections.
    • Profile Insights: Detailed analysis of compatibility.
    • Daily Matches: Curated list of potential partners.

    Why Eharmony Stands Out

    Eharmony stands out for its rigorous matching algorithm and focuses on serious relationships. The detailed profiles and high success rate make it a preferred choice for those looking for lasting love.

    Pricing

    • Basic: Free
    • Premium Light (6 Months): $65.90/month or $395.40 total
    • Premium Plus (12 Months): $45.90/month or $550.80 total
    • Premium Extra (24 Months): $35.90/month or $861.60 total
    • *Prices may vary based on location

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users praise the site for its effective matching system and focus on serious relationships. However, some find the signup process lengthy and the cost relatively high.

    Sign Up to Eharmony

    Elite Singles – Best for Ambitious Professionals

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (11)

    Pros

    • Professional dating
    • High-quality matches
    • Verified profiles
    • Detailed profiles
    • Secure platform

    Cons

    • Premium features require payment
    • Limited free access

    Elite Singles, launched in 2013, caters to professionals seeking meaningful relationships. It has over 12.5+ million active members worldwide. The site offers high-quality matches and verified profiles for serious connections.

    Top Features

    • Professional Dating: Connects professionals with like-minded individuals.
    • High-Quality Matches: Focuses on serious, meaningful relationships.
    • Verified Profiles: Ensures all profiles are authentic.
    • Detailed Profiles: Comprehensive profiles for better matching.
    • Secure Platform: Protects user data and privacy.

    Why Elite Singles Stands Out

    Elite Singles stands out for its focus on professional dating and high-quality matches. The verified and detailed profiles enhance the matching process for serious connections.

    Pricing

    • Premium Classic (1 Month): $59.95/month.
    • Premium Light (3 Months): $57.95/month or $173.85 total.
    • Premium Comfort (6 Months): $44.95/month or $269.70 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users commend the site for its focus on professional dating and high-quality matches. They also praise their verified profiles and secure platform.

    Sign Up for Elite Singles

    Zoosk – Best for Fun and Versatile Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (13)

    Pros

    • Large and active user base (over 40+ million)
    • Behavioral matchmaking technology
    • Easy-to-use interface
    • Variety of communication tools
    • Available in multiple languages

    Cons

    • Some features require payment
    • Free version has limited access

    Brief Site Overview

    Zoosk is a popular dating platform known for its fun and versatile approach to online dating. It was launched in 2007 and uses behavioral matchmaking technology to suggest compatible matches. This makes it easier for users to find potential partners based on their preferences and activity.

    Top Features

    • Behavioral Matchmaking: Uses user activity to suggest compatible matches.
    • SmartPick: Daily curated matches based on compatibility.
    • Carrousel: Quickly browse through potential matches.
    • Messaging System: Multiple communication tools to interact with matches.
    • Verification System: Ensures the authenticity of profiles.

    Why Zoosk Stands Out

    Zoosk stands out for its innovative behavioral matchmaking technology and large user base. It offers a variety of features that cater to different dating preferences.

    • Free Membership: Limited access to features.
    • Premium Membership (1 Month): $29.95/month.
    • Premium Membership (3 Months): $19.98/month or $59.95 total.
    • Premium Membership (6 Months): $12.49/month or $74.95 total.
    • 12-Month Plan: $10.00/month or $120 total

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the site’s user-friendly interface and effective matchmaking technology. However, some users note the limited access to free members and the cost of premium features. The site also does not conduct criminal background checks, but users love its security.

    Sign Up for Zoosk

    Hinge – Best for Fun and Versatile Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (6)

    Pros

    • Detailed profiles
    • Focus on meaningful connections
    • Innovative features
    • Active user base
    • 23+ million US-based members

    Cons

    • Premium features can be expensive
    • Some users experience fewer matches

    Hinge was launched in 2012 and focuses on fostering genuine relationships rather than casual hookups. It uses detailed profiles and prompts to encourage meaningful conversations and connections.

    Top Features

    • Detailed Profiles: Encourages users to share more about themselves.
    • Prompt Questions: Ice-breaker questions to start conversations.
    • We Met: Feedback feature to improve matching.
    • Video Chat: Virtual dates for better connections.
    • Discover: Explore potential matches outside daily recommendations.

    Why Hinge Stands Out

    Hinge stands out for its focus on creating meaningful connections and innovative dating approaches. The detailed profiles and prompt questions help users to get to know each other better.

    Pricing

    • Free Version: Up to 8 profile likes per day
    • Hinge+: $30/month
    • HingeX: $50/month or $600/year

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users praise Hinge for its focus on authentic relationships and detailed profiles. Some users, however, mention the high cost of premium features and fewer matches in certain areas.

    Sign Up to Hinge

    Bumble – Best for Empowering and Interactive Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (15)

    Pros

    • Women make the first move
    • Multiple modes (dating, BFF, Bizz)
    • Emphasis on respect and safety
    • User-friendly interface
    • Free version available

    Cons

    • Limited features for free users
    • Some matches expire quickly

    Bumble was launched in 2014 to empower women to make the first move. It offers an interactive platform for romantic relationships, friendships, and professional networking. Bumble’s unique approach encourages equality and safety in online interactions.

    Top Features

    • Women First: Women initiate conversations.
    • BFF Mode: Find new friends.
    • Bizz Mode: Professional networking.
    • Video Chat: Virtual dates and meetings.
    • SuperSwipe: Show extra interest in potential matches.

    Why Bumble Stands Out

    Bumble stands out for its women-first approach and emphasis on respect and safety. The app’s multiple modes allow users to use it for various purposes.

    Pricing

    1 Week: $8.99/week
    1 Month: $16.99/month
    3 Months: $33.99 for three months paid upfront
    6 Months: $54.99 for six months paid upfront

    1 Week: $19.99/week
    1 Month: $39.99/month
    3 Months: $76.99 for three months paid upfront
    Lifetime: $229.99

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate Bumble’s empowering approach and multiple modes. However, some users find the monthly subscription cost costly and the match expiration times restrictive.

    Sign Up to Bumble

    OK Cupid – Best for Embracing a Diverse Community

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (14)

    Pros

    • Inclusive and diverse user base
    • Detailed profiles and questions
    • Variety of communication options
    • Free version with ample features
    • Compatibility scores

    Cons

    • Some profiles may not be active
    • Ads in free version

    Brief Site Overview

    OK Cupid, launched in 2004, is known for its inclusive and diverse community. It uses a unique questionnaire and compatibility scores to match users with potential partners. This ensures you find someone who shares your interests and values.

    Top Features

    • Compatibility Questions: Detailed questionnaire for better matches.
    • Double Take: Browse potential matches with detailed profiles.
    • Messaging: Various ways to communicate with matches.
    • Profile Prompts: Encourage users to share more about themselves.
    • Open Messaging: Anyone can message, but prioritized for mutual likes.

    Why OK Cupid Stands Out

    OK Cupid stands out for its inclusivity and detailed matching system. The compatibility questions help users find like-minded partners. The site also offers various communication options, making interactions easier.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Basic features with ads.
    • A-List Basic (1 Month): $19.95/month.
    • A-List Basic (3 Months): $14.95/month or $44.85 total.
    • A-List Basic (6 Months): $9.95/month or $59.70 total.
    • A-List Premium (1 Month): $34.90/month.
    • A-List Premium (3 Months): $29.90/month or $89.70 total.
    • A-List Premium (6 Months): $24.90/month or $149.40 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users love the site’s inclusivity and detailed profiles. However, some users note the presence of inactive profiles and ads in the free version.

    Sign Up to OK Cupid

    The League – Best for Elite Professionals

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (7)

    Pros

    • High-quality, professional members
    • Exclusive and selective
    • Detailed profiles
    • Networking opportunities
    • Event Invitations

    Cons

    • Expensive premium membership
    • Limited matches for free users

    Brief Site Overview

    The League was launched in 2015 and is an exclusive dating app designed for elite professionals. It ensures a high standard of members through a rigorous selection process.

    Top Features

    • Profile Verification: Ensures high-quality, professional members.
    • Selective Matching: Curated matches to ensure quality.
    • Video Dating: Virtual dates with potential matches.
    • Networking Events: Invitations to exclusive events and mixers.
    • LinkedIn Integration: Connects with professional profiles for authenticity.

    Why The League Stands Out

    The League stands out for its exclusivity and focus on elite professionals. The selective matching process ensures high-quality matches for singles.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Limited access with few matches.
    • Member (1 Month): $99/month.
    • Member (6 Months): $67/month or $399 total.
    • Member (12 Months): $33/month or $399 total.
    • Owner (1 Month): $199/month.
    • Owner (6 Months): $83/month or $499 total.
    • Owner (12 Months): $42/month or $499 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the high-quality matches and networking opportunities. However, some find the cost of premium membership high and the number of matches for free users limited.

    Sign Up to The League

    Happn – Best for Real-life Connections

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (12)

    Pros

    • Connects with people you cross paths with
    • Unique concept
    • Detailed profiles
    • Free version available
    • Real-time interactions

    Cons

    • Limited matches in less populated areas
    • Some features require payment

    Happn is a unique dating app that connects users with people they’ve met in real life. It was launched in 2014 and uses real-time location data to show potential matches.

    Top Features

    • Real-Time Matches: Connect with people you’ve crossed paths with.
    • Detailed Profiles: Allows users to share more about themselves.
    • Hello Feature: Express interest in potential matches.
    • In-App Messaging: Communicate with matches within the app.
    • Instagram Integration: Connects with social media profiles for more information.

    Why Happn Stands Out

    Happn stands out for its unique approach to dating, which focuses on real-life connections. The real-time matching feature creates opportunities for spontaneous encounters.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Basic features and limited likes.
    • Premium Membership (1 Month): $24.99/month.
    • Premium Membership (6 Months): $15/month or $89.99 total.
    • Premium Membership (12 Months): $10/month or $119.99 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users love the unique concept and the opportunity to connect with people they’ve crossed paths with. However, some note the limited matches in less populated areas and the cost of premium features.

    Sign Up to Happn

    Her – Best for LGBTQ+ Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (16)

    Pros

    • LGBTQ+ friendly
    • Inclusive community
    • Variety of social features
    • Free version available
    • 10+ million users in over 125 different countries

    Cons

    • Limited features for free users
    • Some users experience fewer matches

    Her was launched in 2013 and is specifically designed for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary individuals. It offers a safe and inclusive space for dating, making friends, and engaging with the community.

    Top Features

    • Community Feed: Share updates and engage with other users.
    • Events: Invitations to LGBTQ+ events and meetups.
    • In-App Messaging: Communicate with matches within the app.
    • Photo Sharing: Share photos and moments with the community.
    • Profile Verification: Ensures authenticity of profiles.

    Why Her Stands Out

    Her stands out for creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary individuals. The community features, and event invitations make it more than just a dating app.

    Pricing

    • 1-Month Premium Membership: $14.99/month
    • 6-Month Premium Membership: $59.99 total
    • 12-Month Premium Membership: $89.99 total

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the inclusive community and social features. However, some users mention the limited features for free members and fewer matches in certain areas.

    Sign Up to Her

    Silver Singles – Best for Focused and Mature Relationships

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match

    Pros

    • Targeted at mature singles
    • Detailed profiles
    • Comprehensive personality test
    • Secure platform
    • User-friendly interface

    Cons

    • Premium membership required for full features
    • Limited matches for free users

    Brief Site Overview

    Silver Singles was launched in 2002 to cater to singles over 50 looking for meaningful relationships. It uses a detailed personality test to match users with compatible partners.

    Top Features

    • Personality Test: In-depth test for accurate matching.
    • Profile Verification: Ensures authenticity and security.
    • Daily Matches: Curated list of potential partners.
    • Secure Messaging: Safe communication within the platform.
    • Mobile App: Stay connected on the go.

    Why Silver Singles Stands Out

    Silver Singles stands out for its focus on mature singles and detailed personality matching. The secure platform and user-friendly interface make it a trusted choice.

    Pricing

    • Basic Membership: Free
    • Premium Light: $44.95/month for three months
    • Premium Classic: $34.95/month for six months
    • Premium Comfort: $24.95/month for 12 months

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users commend the site for its focus on mature singles and effective matching systems. Some users, however, find the premium membership necessary for full access.

    Sign Up to Silver Singles

    Coffee Meets Bagel – Best for Thoughtful Connections

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (19)

    Pros

    • Quality over quantity
    • Daily curated matches
    • Detailed profiles
    • Free version available
    • User-friendly interface

    Cons

    • Limited matches per day
    • Some features require payment

    Brief Site Overview

    Coffee Meets Bagel is a dating app launched in 2012; it focuses on quality over quantity. It sends users limited curated matches daily to encourage thoughtful and meaningful interactions.

    Top Features

    • Daily Matches: Curated list of potential partners each day.
    • Detailed Profiles: Allows users to share more about themselves.
    • Photo Sharing: Share photos with matches.
    • In-App Messaging: Communicate within the app.
    • Beans: In-app currency to unlock features and boost profiles.

    Why Coffee Meets Bagel Stands Out

    Coffee Meets Bagel stands out for its focus on quality matches and thoughtful connections. The limited daily matches encourage users to take their time and get to know each other better.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Basic features with daily matches.
    • Premium Membership (1 Month): $34.99/month.
    • Premium Membership (3 Months): $25/month or $74.99 total.
    • Premium Membership (6 Months): $20/month or $119.99 total.
    • Beans: In-app currency starting at $1.99.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users appreciate the thoughtful matching process and quality connections. Some users, however, find the limited daily matches restrictive and the cost of premium features high.

    Sign Up for Coffee Meets Bagel

    Plenty of Fish – Best for a Wide Range of Options

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (10)

    Pros

    • Large dating pool
    • Free to use
    • Variety of communication tools
    • Detailed profiles
    • Advanced search options

    Cons

    • Ads in free version
    • Some profiles may be inactive

    Plenty of Fish (POF) was launched in 2003 and is one of the largest free dating sites. It offers many options for singles looking for casual dates, relationships, or even friendships. With its large user base and detailed profiles, POF provides ample opportunities to meet new people.

    Top Features

    • Free Messaging: Communicate with other members for free.
    • Detailed Profiles: Comprehensive profiles for better matches.
    • Advanced Search: Find matches based on specific criteria.
    • Chemistry Test: Personality test for better compatibility.
    • Meet Me: Feature to browse potential matches quickly.

    Why Plenty of Fish Stands Out

    Plenty of Fish stands out for its large user base and free messaging. The variety of communication tools and advanced search options make connecting with matches easy.

    Pricing

    • Free Account: Send messages to potential matches and add photos to your profile
    • 3-Month Premium Membership: $20.94/month or $62.82 total
    • 6-Month Premium Membership: $15.70/month or $94.23 total
    • 12-Month Premium Membership: $10.47/month or $125.64 total
    • 1 Token: $3.99
    • 5 Tokens: $14.95
    • 10 Tokens: $19.90

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users love the site’s free messaging and large user base. However, some users note the presence of ads and inactive profiles.

    Sign Up for Plenty of Fish

    Match – Best for Trusted and Serious Dating

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (18)

    Pros

    • Established and reputable
    • High success rate
    • Detailed profiles
    • Advanced search options
    • Events and activities

    Cons

    • Premium membership required for full features
    • Some profiles may be inactive

    Match was launched in 1995 and is one of the oldest and most trusted dating sites. It focuses on serious relationships and has a high success rate for long-term connections. Match offers detailed profiles and advanced search options.

    Top Features

    • Detailed Profiles: Allows users to share extensive information about themselves.
    • Advanced Search: Find matches based on specific criteria.
    • Daily Matches: Curated list of potential partners.
    • Events and Activities: Invitations to local events and meetups.
    • MatchPhone: Safe and secure phone calls with matches.

    Why Match Stands Out

    Match stands out for its long-standing reputation and focus on serious relationships. The detailed profiles and advanced search options make it easy to find long-term partners.

    Pricing

    Standard Membership:

    • 3 Months: $34.45/month
    • 6 Months: $24.48/month
    • 12 Months: $21.84/month

    Premium Membership:

    • 3 Months: $40.41/month
    • 6 Months: $26.51/month
    • 12 Months: $23.11/month

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users commend the site for its detailed profiles and high success rate. Users note that a premium membership is needed for full access and that inactive profiles are present.

    Sign Up to Match

    Tinder – Best for Quick and Casual Hookups

    Best Dating Sites - Where Singles and Searching Meet Their Match (3)

    Pros

    • Fast and easy to use
    • Large user base
    • Free version available
    • Geolocation feature
    • Instant matches

    Cons

    • High competition
    • Some profiles may be fake

    Tinder was launched in 2012 and is one of the most popular dating apps for quick and casual hookups. It uses a simple swipe mechanism to match users based on mutual interest. With its large user base and geolocation feature, Tinder makes it easy to find potential matches nearby.

    Top Features

    • Swipe Right/Left: Quick matching based on mutual interest.
    • Super Like: Show extra interest in a potential match.
    • Passport: Connect with users from different locations.
    • Boost: Increase profile visibility for a limited time.
    • Tinder U: Exclusive feature for college students.

    Why Tinder Stands Out

    Tinder stands out for its simplicity and large user base. The quick matching system and geolocation feature make it ideal for users looking for instant connections and casual hookups.

    Pricing

    • Free Membership: Basic features with ads.
    • Tinder Plus (1 Month): $9.99/month.
    • Tinder Plus (6 Months): $5.99/month or $35.94 total.
    • Tinder Plus (12 Months): $4.58/month or $54.96 total.
    • Tinder Gold (1 Month): $14.99/month.
    • Tinder Gold (6 Months): $8.83/month or $52.98 total.
    • Tinder Gold (12 Months): $6.92/month or $82.98 total.

    User Reviews and Ratings

    Users enjoy Tinder’s fast and easy-to-use interface. However, some users note the high competition and presence of fake profiles.

    Sign Up for Tinder

    What Are Dating Sites?

    Dating sites are online platforms that help singles connect with potential partners. These websites and apps offer various tools and features to help you meet people based on your preferences. They also help you build relationships, whether you’re into casual dating or serious relationships.

    How Do Dating Sites Work?

    Most dating apps and websites require you to create a profile with personal info and preferences. They use algorithms to match you with others based on compatibility, interests, and location. Features like messaging, video calls, and virtual gifts make interacting with potential matches easier.

    Paid vs. Free Dating Sites

    Here are the significant differences between Paid vs. Free dating apps and sites.

    Paid dating sites:

    • Offer advanced matchmaking algorithms.
    • Provide more features like personality tests and compatibility assessments.
    • Often, they have better security measures to protect user data.
    • May offer better customer support.
    • Usually attracts users seeking serious relationships.
    • Require a subscription fee or payment for premium features.
    • Generally, they have a smaller but more engaged user base.

    Free dating sites:

    • Have a more extensive user base due to accessibility.
    • Can be full of inactive or fake profiles.
    • Rely on advertisements for revenue.
    • May lack advanced matchmaking algorithms.
    • Often used for casual dating or hookups.
    • Provide basic features without requiring payment.
    • Tend to have fewer privacy controls.
    • Might offer limited customer support options.

    How to Avoid Fake Dating Profiles and Scams

    Online dating can be exciting, but it’s essential to stay vigilant. Here are some key tips to protect yourself from fake profiles and scams.

    Use Secure Payment Methods

    Always use secure payment methods for subscriptions or in-app purchases. Avoid using direct bank transfers or other non-traceable methods. This will help you protect your financial information.

    Watch Out for Red Flags

    Be cautious of profiles with limited information, overly flattering messages, or requests for money. Always trust your instincts and proceed with caution if something feels off.

    Verify Profiles

    Look for verified profiles or use platforms offering profile verification features. Verified profiles usually have a badge indicating their authenticity.

    Report Suspicious Activity

    Most dating platforms have features to report suspicious profiles or activities. By reporting, you help maintain the safety and integrity of the dating community.

    Choose Reputable Dating Platforms

    Stick to well-known and reputable dating sites with good user reviews and security measures. These platforms invest in safety features to protect their users.

    Use Reverse Image Search

    Use reverse image search to check if a profile picture is used elsewhere on the internet. This can help you identify potential catfishers.

    Avoid Sharing Personal Information

    Never share personal information like your address, financial details, or other sensitive data. Protect your privacy until you feel confident in your connection.

    What to Consider When Choosing the Best Dating Sites

    Choosing the right dating site can significantly impact your online dating experience. Here are some key factors to remember when selecting the best dating apps for you.

    Privacy and Safety Features

    Ensure the platform values your privacy and has robust safety features like profile verification. This ensures your personal information stays secure.

    Cost and Payment Options

    Consider your budget and the payment options available. While some of the best dating apps require a subscription, free dating apps can also offer limited features.

    Features and Functionality of the Site

    Look for user-friendly interfaces, efficient matchmaking algorithms, and efficient features. These can make your dating experience more enjoyable and effective.

    Matching Algorithms

    Effective matching algorithms can significantly enhance your online dating experience. They help suggest compatible matches based on your preferences and behavior. The better the algorithm, the higher your chances of finding a good match.

    Success Stories and Reputation

    Research the platform’s reputation and read success stories from other users. Positive testimonials can give you confidence in the site’s ability to help you find a meaningful connection.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    We now address some of the most frequently asked questions about dating sites:

    Which Dating Site Is the Most Effective?

    The most effective dating site depends on what you’re looking for. Adult Friend Finder is excellent for casual encounters and has a vast user base. Ashley Madison is ideal for discreet affairs, while Seeking is perfect for luxurious arrangements.

    What Is the Number 1 Dating App Right Now?

    While personal preference varies, Adult Friend Finder is the top choice for casual dating. It has extensive features and an active community of diverse members.

    What Dating Site Is Totally Free?

    None of these sites are totally free, but they offer free trials or basic memberships. For example, Adult Friend Finder and Ashley Madison provide free account setups with limited features. This allows you to explore before committing to a paid plan.

    Which Dating Site Leads to the Most Marriages?

    While these sites are primarily for casual encounters and discreet relationships, many have found lasting connections. However, for traditional marriages, other platforms might be more suitable.

    Are Paid Dating Sites Worth It?

    Yes, paid dating sites often offer enhanced features, better security, and higher success rates. Dating sites like Adult Friend Finder, Ashley Madison, or Seeking can provide a more tailored dating experience.

    Can I Find a Serious Relationship on a Dating Site?

    While these sites focus more on casual and discreet relationships, many have found serious connections. If you’re open to different types of relationships, these platforms can still be effective.

    What’s the Best Dating Site for You?

    The best dating site for you depends on your needs:

    • Adult Friend Finder is best for casual encounters and adventurous connections.
    • Ashley Madison is ideal for those seeking discreet affairs.
    • Seeking is perfect for luxurious arrangements.

    Final Note

    Choosing the right adult dating site can make all the difference in your online dating experience. Our top pick is Adult Friend Finder, which stands out for its vast user base and various dating options. It is an excellent choice for casual encounters and adventurous connections.

    Remember, online dating is about having fun and meeting new people. Take your time and enjoy the process. And if nothing else, think of it as a great way to improve your profile writing skills!

    Happy dating!

    Disclaimer This content was commissioned by UP Venture Media in a partnership with the Metro Times. A few of the links on this page may be affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase within a specific time period, said party may earn a commission. Affiliate compensation does not influence our rankings or evaluations.


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    Morris Munene of UP Venture Media

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  • Comedy royalty Marlon Wayans performs stand-up in Orlando for three nights this week

    Comedy royalty Marlon Wayans performs stand-up in Orlando for three nights this week

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    Comedian Marlon Wayans plays Orlando for three nights

    White Chicks and Scary Movie star, In Living Color trailblazer and renowned stand-up Marlon Wayans performs at the Funny Bone for a three-night stand this weekend.

    Picking up where he left off after a strong performance at UCF’s Homecoming Comedy Night in 2022, this comedian finds humor and heaviness in topics of acceptance and grief, making you laugh about experiences you didn’t know you could laugh about.

    One of Wayans’ latest specials, Marlon Wayans: Good Grief, includes very affecting material about acceptance of his transgender son and other family-related humor. Pregame with the aforementioned Amazon Prime special and get ready to witness a key part of one of America’s first families of comedy.

    Thursday-Saturday, June 13-15, Funny Bone Comedy Club, 9101 International Drive, orlando. funnybone.com, $54-$84.

    Event Details

    Marlon Wayans

    Marlon Wayans

    Thu., June 13, 6 p.m., Fri., June 14, 6 & 9 p.m. and Sat., June 15, 5:30 & 8:30 p.m.


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    Sarah Lynott

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  • Broadway in Orlando review: ‘Clue’ captures the madcap spirit of the cinematic board game-based cult classic

    Broadway in Orlando review: ‘Clue’ captures the madcap spirit of the cinematic board game-based cult classic

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    photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

    The company of the North American tour of “Clue”

    Over the past several seasons, subscribers to the Dr. Phillips Center’s Broadway series have come to expect a certain formula from the seemingly endless parade of screen-to-stage adaptations: They take a favorite film, bloat the narrative with unnecessary new elements, pad the running time with a pastiche score of forgettable music, and generally suck out everything that made the original fun.

    So it’s something of a small-scale miracle that Clue (subtitled “Live on Stage!” or “A New Comedy,” depending on which page of the playbill you believe) not only manages to capture the madcap spirit of the cinematic boardgame-based cult classic without adding useless cruft, but even cuts nearly 15 minutes off of the movie’s already efficient 94-minute running time.

    The film’s Agatha Christie-meets-Parker Brothers plotline — involving six strangers trapped inside a mansion with a murderer — is patently absurd, and largely relied on its all-star cast’s comedic skill for its enduring appeal. Fortunately, the stage version’s touring cast capably steps into those enormous shoes with go-for-broke performances that fondly recall (rather than re-create) their famous forerunners.

    Standouts among the cast include Michelle Elaine’s sassy Miss Scarlet, Tari Kelly’s icy Mrs. White, and Mark Prince in the central role of Wadsworth the butler; his buttoned-up energy is more Ian Holm than Tim Curry, but his hyperkinetic accusatory monologue at the climax is a certified show-stopper. Most of all, John Shartzer steals the production with his spastic slapstick as the Gumby-eqsue Mr. Green, whose slow-motion back-bend puts a CGI-assisted Keanu Reeves to shame.

    The first credit for this unexpectedly entertaining show goes to Hunter Forster, who originally adapted Jonathan Lynn’s screenplay, and contributed with Eric Price to playwright Sandy Rustin’s script. They’ve wisely re-created verbatim nearly all of the quotable dialogue from the 1985 whodunit, then added just enough meta-context and inside winks to satisfy both die-hard fans and newcomers alike.

    Even with such funny actors and a faithful script, such a show could easily go wrong without the razor-sharp cue pickup and relentless pacing that director Casey Hushion has brought to this anything-but-bored game. Marvelously musical choreographed movement atop Lee Savage’s surprise-packed puzzle-box set makes for transitions that are cinematically seamless, and scenes that largely consist of characters talking become visually interesting with the help of Ryan O’Gara’s spookhouse lighting and Jen Caprio’s color-coded costumes.

    It may seem like a slender morsel compared to Les Miz, the three-and-a-half-hour Broadway behemoth coming back to town later this month. But after so many overcooked adaptations, Clue is a refreshing palate-cleanser that made me hungry to rewatch the original film again — and let me get home early enough to do so.

    Event Details

    "Clue"

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    Seth Kubersky

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  • The Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Kicks Off and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week

    The Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Kicks Off and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week

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    Petra Polackova will perform in the 24th annual Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival:

    Trombone fans, classical guitar aficionados, and chamber music devotées can binge out on multiple events this week, as well as enjoy a taste of musical theater shows on deck for later in the summer.

    – Cleveland Orchestra trombonist Sachar Israel has revived his Cleveland Trombone Seminar after a lengthy pandemic-related hiatus. Many ‘bones will be gathering at Cleveland State University this week for master classes, ensemble rehearsals, and recitals by orchestral principals — including Christina Cutts from the Phoenix Symphony (Wednesday at 5:30 with pianist Joanna Huang), and Randall Hawes from the Detroit Symphony (Friday at 5:30 with pianist Kathryn Goodson).

    – Then on Saturday at 2, multiple trombonists directed by Mark Lusk of Penn State University will form choirs and ensembles to play music by Richard Strauss, Antonio Lotti, J.S. Bach, Anton Bruckner, Eric Ewazen, Frigyes Hidas, and Ola Gjeilo. Saturday’s concert is free, but other events (all held in CSU’s Drinko Recital Hall) are ticketed.

    – The 24th annual Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival begins on Thursday in Mixon Hall at the Cleveland Institute of Music with the semi-final rounds of the James Stroud Youth Competition at 10 am and 1:30 pm, and an opening recital by Jason Vieaux with violinist Mari Sato at 7:30.

    – Guest recitalists include Nicolò Spera (Italy, playing a 10-string guitar, Friday at 7:30), Lorenzo Micheli (Italy, Saturday at 7:30), Hao Yang (China, Sunday at 1), and Petra Polácková (Czech Republic, Sunday at 4). The Festival concludes with the Final Round and Awards Ceremony of the Stroud Competition on Sunday at 6:30. Click here for details and tickets (the Stroud events are free).

    – Also starting up this week: ENCORE Chamber Music Institute, whose concerts this summer take place in various venues. “Roma Jazz on a Starry Night” with the Olli Soikkeli Band launches the series at Kendall Lake in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Friday at 7:30), followed by “Wander the World with the Verona String Quartet” at the Akron-Summit Public Library (Saturday at 7), and “Mystery of the Light,” a collaboration with Cleveland Humanities 2024 Festival in Harkness Chapel at CWRU (Sunday at 3, including Lili Boulanger’s D’un matin de printemps, Kaija Saariaho’s Light and Matter, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Phantasy Quintet, and Mendelssohn’s String Octet). Go online to reserve tickets.

    – And Ohio Light Opera opens its six-show season with the Broadway musical Guys and Dolls on Saturday at 2 in Freedlander Theater at the College of Wooster. View the company’s entire summer schedule and reserve seats here.

    Two more concerts at the weekend feature vocal music.

    – On Friday at 7:30 at St. Ann in Cleveland Heights and Sunday at 4 at the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus, The Cleveland Opera presents soprano Dorota Sobieska and tenor Daniel Doty in opera excerpts and music for string orchestra led by Grzegorz Nowak. Both concerts are free but you can reserve a sponsor seat online.

    – And on Sunday at 2, in collaboration with Opus 216, Choral Arts Cleveland will perform Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem with baritone Albert Donze, soprano Anna O’Connell, and organist Natalie Mealey at Divinity Lutheran Church in Parma. Peter Wright conducts the free concert.

    Click here to visit the ClevelandClassical.com Concert Listings page for more information.

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    ClevelandClassical Staff

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  • ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Cain Park is Filled With Lovably Clumsy Characters

    ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Cain Park is Filled With Lovably Clumsy Characters

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    Photo credit: Every Angle Photography

    Through June 9 at Cain Park

    There are some shows in the huge and groaning anthology of stage musicals that are simply impervious to critical comment. Because no matter how bad some or all of the performers are, and no matter how ham-handed the direction, something like The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will always be saved by the Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin.

    The entire two-act play is basically a spelling bee in which a gaggle of snot-nosed (literally) middle-schoolers fence with letters to spell unpronounceable words. Happily, in this Cain Park version which I saw at a preview performance, the direction by Patrick Ciamacco was energetic and the characters were all sufficiently dweeby as they fought off family issues, physical complications, and in one case a rogue boner to nab the championship.

    There are six finalists in the competition, a lineup which is temporarily enlarged at every performance with four volunteer audience members selected beforehand, each of whom are quickly dispatched. After that, the play mostly consists of the usual spelling bee mechanics.

    Vice-Principal Douglas Panch (Brian Altman) says each spelling word while gazing longingly at his alluring assistant Rona Lisa Peretti (Bridie Carroll), a former spelling bee champ—BTW, that’s not the stiffy in question. The contestants ask questions about the word, then they spell. If they hear the dreaded ding of a bell, they are comforted and ushered off the stage by a terrifying ex-con named Mitch (Geoffrey Short, who sings as well as he glowers), who is doing the gig as part of his mandatory community service.

    If you question how many laughs could be generated by a play featuring a geeky middle-school spelling bee, the answer is a ton. Each time the spellers are introduced, and every time the participants ask for their spelling word to be defined or used in a sentence, Sheinkin nails a laugh line you don’t see coming. After providing the definition of the word cystitis as a bladder infection, Panch offers the helpful sentence usage: “Susie’s mother said it was her cystitis that made her special.”

    The student contestants each have their entertaining moments. The adorable son of hippies named Leaf Coneybear (Andres Martinez) falls into a trance when spelling his words while Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre (a sparky Sophia Ruiz), the daughter of a hyphen-rejecting gay male couple, lisps juicily through her spelling challenges.

    As the spookily efficient spelling machine Marcy Park, Kayla Petersen not only nails her letters but also fashions a loose-limbed dance in her song “I Speak Six Languages,” a number that falls just short of being a showstopper. And Gabriel J. Hill turns boy scout Chip Tolentino from an uber-confident spelling jock to a quivering lump of embarrassment when his Trouser Weasel decides to rise to the occasion.

    The show tries to reach for some real emotion when William Barfee (a perpetually tormented and contorted Seth Crawford) and Olive Ostrovsky (Kate Day Magocsi, who has a killer singing voice) fall in spelling bee love. But as good as they are individually, the attempted bee-utiful pairing falls flat.

    Even though the show’s one-joke format begins to feel exhausted in the second act, Bee is held together by Altman and Carroll. The former offers a richly amusing deadpan delivery of his lines and the latter gets consistent laughs with her fractured mini-profiles of the students.

    While the music and lyrics by William Finn are serviceable, the engine of this Bee is in the sting of Sheinkin’s timeless gags. Long may this clumsily titled show with these lovably clumsy characters live, spell and prosper.

    The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
    Through June 9 at Cain Park. 14591 Superior Road between Taylor Road and Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, www.cainpark.com.

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    Christine Howey

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  • Goofy Gore and an Odd Ending in ‘A Behanding in Spokane’ at Blank Canvas Theatre

    Goofy Gore and an Odd Ending in ‘A Behanding in Spokane’ at Blank Canvas Theatre

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    Photo by Liz Baumgartner

    A Behanding in Spokane, through June 8

    Usually, when the centerpiece of a show involves a motel room where a full can of gas with a lighted candle stuck in the spout illuminates a floor littered with chopped-off hands, you’d think something interesting might be going on.

    And you’d mostly be right during the goofily gory A Behanding in Spokane by playwright Martin McDonagh. This production at Blank Canvas Theatre, under the direction of Andrew Keller, brings out the cringe-inducing features of this script while managing to create a couple characters who, if you look past their scuzzy personas, are worth encountering.

    The motel room is rented by scumbag Carmichael (Keith Kornacjik), who is missing his left hand. Turns out, he was relieved of it a few years before by a gang of rednecks who held his arm on railroad tracks as a choo-choo came by. And to rub it in, they waved goodbye to the screaming Carmichael with his own hand.

    Ever since, he’s been on the hunt for his displaced digits, placing ads offering a $500 reward for such information. But so far, he’s only come up with jack-offs trying to nab the loot by passing off counterfeit amputated hands as Carmichael’s, including a couple kids’ hands. And he carries those hands with him, stuffed into a briefcase.

    Did I mention this is a dark comedy? These kinds of monstrous doings are the stock in trade for McDonagh, and the four characters he creates are of a piece. Also occupying the room are Marilyn (Jillian Mesaros) and her Black boyfriend Toby (Christian “CJ” Hall), the guy Carmichael shot at. At time, the front desk guy Mervyn shows up to check on suspicious activities.

    Toby and Marilyn, who are lovers, are the latest two-bit con artists trying to fool Carmichael and that’s where this one-act hits the skids a bit. They are working against a difficult obstacle since the actor who was cast to play Toby had to leave the production a day before opening.

    As a result, at this performance Hall was working with book in hand, which limited his ability to create a believable character. To his credit, Hall fashioned some agile line readings and kept the pace of the show moving, but the vaccuum where his full character should have been affected not just his performance but all the other actors and the piece as a whole.

    That said, Kornajcik establishes Carmichael as the surly sort you cross the street to avoid, and Mesaros trembles and rages with style in her spot-on portrayal of Marilyn.

    Good as they are, the show is almost stolen by Daniel Telford as the spacey front-desk drone Mervyn. In addition to his verbal fencing with Carmichael, he launches into a borderless diatribe about monkeys which he manages to make almost sensible in a thoroughly nonsensical way.

    Trouble is, playwright McDonagh creates a comical standoff he doesn’t quite finish, so the play meanders to an odd ending that isn’t consistent with what’s gone before. Perhaps it proves that it’s hard to top a play that starts with a gas can bomb and a collection of loose hands.

    In any case, it’s an interesting piece that will only get better, one assumes, as performer Hall gets his feet under him.

    A Behanding in Spokane
    Through June 8 at Blank Canvas Theatre, 78th Street Studios, 1305 West 78th St., Suite 211, 440-941-0458, blankcanvastheatre.com.

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    Christine Howey

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Love In’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Love In’

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    Don’t tell my beloved wife — whom I met at the Fringe exactly 17 years ago — but I just got one of the loveliest love letters I’ve received in my life, and it didn’t come from her. Orlando ex-pat writer/performer Amanda Grace is visiting from England to hold her “Love In,” and she invites you to lounge in the Shakes’ rear courtyard with her for an intimate one-on-one encounter, accompanied by a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

    Our 25 minutes together flew by, as Grace graciously engaged me in a gently probing dialogue, eliciting thoughtful responses with her empathetic listening skills. All the while, she’s deftly inscribing delicate cursive script onto pastel notepaper using an old-fashioned fountain pen, without ever missing a conversational cue.

    In the end, I walked away with a petite personalized packet — containing stickers, small messages, and the love letter in question (whose secrets I shall never reveal) — along with a soothing surge of positive vibes similar to what you feel after a good yoga meditation. Grace says she’s attempting to create “actual generous art,” and I wholeheartedly agree that she’s succeeded. I can’t come up with an adequately uplifting equivalent for the word “haunting,” but if it exists, this unforgettable ethereal epistolary experiment would be its living definition.

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “Love In”

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘ReTRIBUTEion, The Ultimate Tribute Band Tribute’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘ReTRIBUTEion, The Ultimate Tribute Band Tribute’

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    Want to experience an intimate, immersive live concert starring a half-dozen of the world’s greatest classic rock acts, without getting gored by Ticketmaster fees? Look no further than “ReTRIBUTEion,” an all-star celebration of the greatest cover band (excuse me, tribute band) that never was. Creator/director Michael Marinaccio plays the founder of an impersonator supergroup comprised of Tymisha Harris (Tina Turner, Whitney Houston), Monica Leamy (Gwen Stefani) and Ryan Leyhue (Ozzy Osbourne, Meat Loaf), backed up by a hard-hitting band featuring guitarists Jonathan Leamy and Matt Lynx.

    Slickly produced video clips with “celebrity” cameos and short dialogue scenes, which efficiently chart the band’s multi-decade rise and fall, will amuse anyone who loves This Is Spinal Tap or Monty Python’s “Rock Notes” routine. However, the real draw here is being surrounded by the high-energy musical performances of FM radio favorites, which had me banging my head and my AppleWatch’s decibel meter begging for mercy; thankfully, free earplugs are thoughtfully provided.

    This cast of seasoned pros could easily set up shop on the Vegas Strip with their full-bodied interpretations of these icons. Harris’s volcanic “Whole Lotta Love” and Leyhue’s operatic “I Would Do Anything for Love” are worth the price of admission by themselves, and Marinaccio’s mop-headed take on Weird Al had me howling. Bonus points: You can keep drinking at the bar during the show. Party on, dudes!

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “ReTRIBUTEion, The Ultimate Tribute Band Tribute”

    Location Details

    Renaissance Theatre Co.

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    Seth Kubersky

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Grease, Too!’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Grease, Too!’

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    I don’t like the film version of Grease, and I’ve never made it through the sequel in its entirety. So color me tickled pink that writer/performer Megan Phillips made me sing along with a smile at “Grease, Too!”, her breakneck love letter to both of these movie musicals and the healing power of fandom.

    Like a one-woman Rocky Horror shadow cast, Phillips — inhabiting her bullied middle-school self — fast-forwards her well-worn VHS videotapes to her favorite scenes, re-creating dialogue and parodying songs with spot-on characterizations and sharp observations about Sandy’s feminist bona fides.

    Phillips is a wonderfully warm stage presence with great audience rapport, and director Kristina Agosti imbues this energetically paced show with witty editing, slick synchronization, and just the right amount of heart. I don’t ever need to hear Michelle Pfeiffer sing “Cool Rider” again in my lifetime, but I’d happily visit Phillips’ basement and eat Oreos with her anytime.

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “Grease, Too!”

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘The Curve’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘The Curve’

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    When veteran circus performer Genie Cartier began training at age 8, an abusive instructor informed her that she didn’t have an “acrobat’s body,” so everything would be harder for her. Fortunately for Fringe audiences, Cartier overcame her curved back and a hundred other hurdles to have a 30-year career in the art of Chinese acrobatics (which is like gymnastics, but with broader bows), culminating in this autobiographical variety show, “The Curve”.

    After an adorable musical opening credits sequence, Cartier takes audiences on a four-act journey through her limber life, from initial fears and fractured heels through desperation jobs and the COVID lockdown, until she learns to carve her own path. As a highlight, she shows off her remarkable strength and agility in a dynamic chair-balancing routine, which she developed at age 17 while performing for celebrities with a troupe of fire-spinning Scientologists.

    Between skits, there are satirical advertisements for calluses, MFA degrees and physical therapy — as well as passive-aggressive commentary from a sportscasting shark puppet. Cartier is a genuinely charming storyteller, even if she doesn’t make strong distinctions between other characters, and her clown-like dancing is delightful. However, I was left craving even more examples of her acrobatic talents.

    Sadly, as Cartier explains in front of projected X-rays of her numerous injuries, she’s had to say goodbye to several of her hard-earned skills, but the new ones she’s mastered — like slo-mo training montages — help make up for it. Cartier conquers her inner and external critics by embracing her evolving body, as this show delves beneath its silly self-deprecating surface to unveil a surprisingly moving meditation on loss and change that should resonate with any aging athlete or artist.

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “The Curve”

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘The Magic Castle Still Stands’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘The Magic Castle Still Stands’

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    Five strangers on a long-distance train ride uncover unexpected connections with each other — and within themselves — in “The Magic Castle Still Stands,” an eerie original play from writer Vanessa Frances and co-director Emily Kucala. Amelia Bryant stars as Harvey, an anxious young woman in mourning for her mother, who is taking her first solo trip to New York City. After their journey is derailed by an disturbing tragedy, Harvey bonds with Mikey (Ella Hadley), a chatterbox teen sharing her compartment, and discovers that Mikey’s BFF bears a spooky similarity to Iris (Victoria Lobdell), her elusive elementary school confidante.

    Frances’s enigmatic script, which contains echoes of Jacob’s Ladder and The Twilight Zone (as well as more literary inspirations from Hesse and Dostoevsky), at first appears to be a supernatural thriller, before cleverly evolving into a psychological drama. The parental figures in the cast are annoying stock characters that are mostly around to argue, but the younger actors are uniformly excellent. Hadley gives an impressively grounded, natural performance as a child of divorced parents; and Lobdell and Bryant invest their intense emotional bond with unaffected familiarity far beyond their tender years.

    The final scene unsatisfyingly introduces an eleventh-hour element that feels underdeveloped, and I wish the slow, silent scene changes were sped up by 500%. But those are forgivable flaws in a Fringe show such as this that features fresh, young voices in an imaginative, introspective story.

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “The Magic Castle Still Stands”

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ’10 Sketches With Rauce and Joel’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ’10 Sketches With Rauce and Joel’

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    In their program description, veteran Fringe funnymen Rauce Padgett and Joel Warren — former hosts of the Festival’s much-missed late-night talk show — winkingly advise patrons to “smoke in the car” before the show. But even if you don’t puff-puff-pass, you definitely don’t want to pass on this brilliant hour of bite-sized comedy gems.

    At an average length of five minutes, none of these 10 skits (plus a bonus encore) has a chance to outlast their welcome. Every single premise — from an Oprah-obsessed Top Gun instructor and an idiot burglar, to a demonic tipping debate and a modern update of Abbott & Costello’s “Who’s On First” — generates comedic gold, and at least 80 percent of the punchlines land with a big belly laugh, which is a spectacular statistic for any sketch comedy.

    This is certainly not a show for the easily offended, with raunchy routines about a masturbating astronaut, phallocentric pirate, and self-hating gay cowboy. But Padgett and Warren are too goofy for their gags to feel mean-spirited, and they are always the biggest butts of their own humor. Fringers who feel like laughing until their sides are sore will surely score more than their money’s worth from these 10 Sketches.

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “10 Sketches With Rauce and Joel”

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Prowling the Abyss’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Prowling the Abyss’

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    Medusa is back with a brand-new snake-free head, and she’s got quite a few bloody bones to pick with humanity — at least the male half — in this gonzo solo performance art piece starring writer Karen Anne Light and directed by Elizabeth Baron. Light’s reimagined monster is a queer femme icon who longs for the good old days when men were castrated to fertilize the fields; now she passes the eons by regaling her audience with gruesome Gorgon riddles and stories of infant cannibalism and lesbian anarchists with elastic labia, when not caterwauling orgasmically.

    Eventually, the topic jumps to modern politics (which she initially promises not to discuss) with uneven results. I sometimes struggled to follow the connection from one interlude to another, especially during sluggish extended segments where Light inhabits the character of a breathy bubble-bather or an exhausted butter enthusiast.

    This Medusa may not turn audiences to stone, but there’s certainly something hypnotic about her intensely focused eyes, fascinatingly flexible forearms and aggressively icy intonation. If you’re easily shocked by Sapphic stream-of-consciousness soliloquies about the toll of toxic hetero-masculinity, this might be too much for you. But you don’t have to be a harpy, historian or homosexual to be engrossed by at least the Medusa-centric parts of this production. The only prerequisite is patience, and an appreciation for out-there acerbic absurdism.

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “Prowling the Abyss”

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘AWOL’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘AWOL’

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    Time may make fools of us all, but the indignities of aging are made especially foolish in “AWOL,” a two-man comedy from writer/performer Rob Gee. Jon Paterson co-stars as Cyril, a misanthropic octogenarian whose only friend in their retirement home is Neville (Gee), an amiable amnesiac whose positive outlook is the polar opposite of his own. Together, they blackmail their perpetually stoned caretaker and take off to attend a death metal festival in hopes of reuniting Cyril with his estranged granddaughter.

    Gee and Paterson are both longtime Fringe darlings for good reason, and watching their clownlike flailing as they flee for freedom is a delight. When not playing the elderly pair, both actors slip into character as the biker gang members, rock stars and acid dealers they encounter along the way. Gee’s wordplay is both witty and wistful, as the odd couple gripe about a world (which hopefully awaits us all) where bladder functions and the daily dinner entree are your biggest topics of conversation. Their preposterous plotting at times evokes a geriatric Pinky & the Brain episode.

    “AWOL” is a funny, imaginative show with an important underlying message about ageism, but coming from such a well-traveled team I had elevated expectations that weren’t entirely met. Ryan Gladstone’s direction is filled with frantic physical comedy and distinctive characterizations, but on opening night the timing and blocking were sorely in need of tightening. Ad lib digressions, which amuse in moderation, further sapped the pace, and pandering local references shoehorned between the script’s Britishisms also fell flat.

    With a bit more polish, I have little doubt these pros will turn this into a production that makes you sing “hope I don’t die before I get old.”

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “AWOL”

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Bangs, Bobs & Banter: Confessions of a Hairstylist’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Bangs, Bobs & Banter: Confessions of a Hairstylist’

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    Whether it’s a botched bleach job or a bad bowl cut, there’s no hair disaster that Nikki (writer/performer Joanna Rannelli) can’t repair, as she serves as a receptacle for her client’s most intimate confessions … but just don’t ask her to accept liability if you beg for bangs.

    I’m the type of person who gets his hair cut as infrequently as possible at chain salons, and prefer not to chitchat with my stylist, but I thoroughly enjoyed my hour at “Bangs, Bob & Banter” meeting Nikki’s comedic clientele — including a feisty octogenarian, a harried helicopter mom, a cheating housewife, an impatient Karen and a chauvinistic male customer, among others — whose wigs and worldviews Rannelli slips in and out of with empathetic ease.

    Rannelli gives each customer their own instantly identifiable voice and physicality, and director/dramaturge Kerry Ipema gives the play fluid pacing and visual variety — despite largely revolving around a hairdressing chair — which was impressively polished for opening night of a world premiere.

    We never really get to know Nikki herself much beyond her pet peeves and Barbie memories, and although the script includes a thoughtful interlude with a chemo patient who’s liberated by her celebrity wigs, it only briefly touches on the stylist’s deeper role as unlicensed therapist and aesthetic time-stopper. Perhaps that deeper dive can be saved for a sequel, because Rannelli is a winning performer, and I’ll bet a buzz-cut that Nikki has more tress-tales to tell.

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “Bangs, Bobs & Banter: Confessions of a Hairstylist”

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  • Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Hyde’

    Orlando Fringe 2024 review: ‘Hyde’

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    PUSH Physical Theatre, creators of the award-winning 2022 hit “Generic Male,” return to Orlando for the world premiere of “Hyde,” an atmospheric experiment in dance theater inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s horror novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde that’s told from the monster’s perspective. Ashley Jones plays the titular terror, who enlists two performers (Heather Stevenson and Darren Stevenson) in retelling his story through thrilling, gravity-defying movement pieces set to Ricky Desktop, Peter Gundry and Gungor.

    The trio, who wrote and directed the show collaboratively, reinvent the iconic transformation scene, sway in a deathly waltz, and mirror each other in a show-stopping shadow routine. However, just as these breathtaking demonstrations of dance combat and hand-balancing acrobatics are reaching their climax, they are interrupted by an inopportune phone call from an eagerly expected late arrival.

    That launches Hyde into another fourth wall-breaking interrogation of the audience, whom he initially teases with seemingly silly interactive games before threatening to “do something terrible” and challenging us to stop him. Interspersed in all this are fragments of mournful monologues that hint a deeper meaning behind Hyde’s increasingly confounding confrontations with his viewers.

    PUSH’s last production was the kind of show I could recommend unreservedly to nearly any Fringe-goer, but this work-in-progress is a far pricklier piece that features just as much thoughtful imagination, but in a far less accessible package. I personally felt the moody lighting was too murky, the ending was too enigmatic, and the overall balance tipped too far in favor of monologuing rather than movement. But for modern dance devotees who appreciate exceptional weight-sharing, as well as lovers of avant-garde expressionism with a gothic edge, “Hyde” will be another must-see.

    Orlando Fringe Festival: Tickets and times for “Hyde”

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    Seth Kubersky

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